Naira gains marginally in early trade

The naira rose marginally in early trade on Thursday, a day after the central bank and four oil companies sold dollars to boost interbank market liquidity, dealers said.

The currency traded at 181 to the dollar at 0849 GMT, having opened at 181.40.

At its regular forex auction on Wednesday the central bank sold $147 million at 168 naira, dealers said, less than the $199.9 million it sold at this week’s previous auction.